Main Idea
Southern California is known for its tourist attractions and its theme parks. People come from all over the world to get a look at Hollywood, and such things as the "Walk of Fame" where many celebrities’ names are found on gold stars on Hollywood Boulevard. Tourists are also attracted to the area with hopes of catching sight of the movie stars who live in the hills surrounding Los Angeles. Many visitors come to shop in the glamorous shops on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Among the theme parks that attract visitors are Disneyland in Anaheim, Knott’s Berry Farm, Magic Mountain Amusement Park, and Raging Waters park. Folks who want to combine tourist attractions and theme parks can visit Universal Studios which offers both.
Which of the following statements best states the main idea of this passage?
A. Disneyland is famous all over the world.
B. Most tourists enjoy Southern California.
C. Southern California has both tourist attractions and theme parks for visitors.
D. Many movie stars live in the Southern California area.
C. Southern California has both tourist attractions and theme parks for visitors.
(1) Sam claimed that onions were nature's magic vegetable. (2) He advised the people that onions were good for the digestion, the liver, the stomach, the lungs, the heart, and the brain. (3) Is there any truth to Sam's advice? (4) The ancient Egyptians worshipped the onion. (5) The National Cancer Institute reports that onions contain antioxidants that help block cancer and appear to lower cholesterol. (6) Apparently, Sam was right. (7) Onions are a magic vegetable.
Which sentence does NOT belong in the paragraph? 1 , 2 , 3 , or 4
(4) The ancient Egyptians worshipped the onion.
Julia wanted to become a doctor for as long as she could remember. In college when her friends were out at the mall or going out with friends, Julia spent all of her time studying. At graduation, Julia graduated with high honors and was offered a job shortly after.
What is the theme?
A Studying is important.
B It is important to go to college.
C Hard work pays off.
C.) Hard work pays off.
Money Mark was born rich. He never had to work a day in his life and he got everything handed to him on a silver platter. When he was six, Money Mark wanted to go to a basketball game. His father paid the starting five of the Bulls and Celtics to play a private game of Nerf-ball in Money Mark's bedroom. When Money Mark turned thirteen, he wanted to start a band. His father hired the Rolling Stones to play with him every Saturday at the family's private concert hall, though his family was never there. By the time he was twenty-one, Money Mark was bored with life. He was surrounded by a bunch of possessions that he didn't appreciate and Money Mark could find nothing new or exciting in his life. Despite his vast wealth, Money Mark was never satisfied.
What is the theme?
Money can't buy happiness.
Benjamin Franklin invented many things that made life easier in the late 1700’s. He invented the lightning rod that saved many homes from fires. He also invented the Franklin stove. The stove could heat a room better than a fireplace and saved people a lot of fuel. He also invented a special kind of glasses called bifocals. This new kind of glasses helped people to read better.
What is the main idea?
a. Benjamin Franklin thought reading was important.
b. Benjamin Franklin was not afraid of fire.
c. Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor.
d. A Franklin stove can heat a whole room.
C. Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor.
Louis Sachar worked at an elementary school while he attended college. His job was to watch over the students during lunch. Sachar played games with the students. He soon earned the nickname "Louis, the Yard Teacher". Sachar used this experience to form a character in his first children's book, Sideways Stories for Wayside School.
Which sentence would make the best addition to the paragraph?
a) Although Sachar graduated from law school and passed the bar exam, he decided to become a full-time children's author rather than a lawyer.
b) Louis Sachar was born in New York, moved to California at age nine, and now lives in Texas.
c) In 1987 Sachar and his wife Carla had their first child named Sherre.
d) Sachar met his wife while he was a visiting a school in Texas.
A. Although Sachar graduated from law school and passed the bar exam, he decided to become a full-time children's author rather than a lawyer.
Liam loved climbing trees. He felt free and strong when he reached the top branches. One day, his little sister Emma called out to him, "Be careful, Liam! You might fall!"
Liam grinned and said, "I know, but I’m careful. I like climbing because it helps me feel brave."
Emma watched as Liam climbed down safely and said, "I wish I could be brave like you." Liam smiled and told her, "Being brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared. It just means you try anyway."
What is the theme?
A. Bravery is about trying even when you’re scared.
B. You should always listen to your little sister.
C. Climbing trees is a dangerous activity.
A.) Bravery is about trying even when you’re scared.
DAILY DOUBLE Mrs. Smith was doing a unit on healthy living with her students. All week Mrs. Smith taught her students about eating the correct foods like fruits and vegetables. Over the weekend, some of Mrs. Smith's students were at the mall and saw Mrs. Smith eating pizza, a milkshake, and candy. Mrs. Smith's student, Molly, was going to order a salad, but now decided to order junk food too.
What is the theme?
Actions speak louder than words
DAILY DOUBLE Farmers in Japan have a problem. There is not much land to farm, and there are many people to feed. Some farmers cut rows in the hillsides and grow crops there. This helps a little, but many kinds of food are shipped to Japan. They can choose anything they want to eat!
What is the main idea?
a. There is little land to farm in Japan; so many kinds of food are shipped to Japan.
b. Growing food on the hillside in Japan is hard work.
c. The Japanese like getting food from different countries.
d. You can choose anything you want to eat in Japan.
A. There is little land to farm in Japan; so many kinds of food are shipped to Japan.
Harriet Tubman was a runaway slave from Maryland who became known as the "Moses of her people." _________________________________________________________________ The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses where runaway slaves could stay on their journey north to freedom. She later became a leader in the abolitionist movement, and during the Civil War she was a spy with for the federal forces in South Carolina as well as a nurse.
Which of the following details supports the main idea?
A. Over the course of 10 years, and at great personal risk, she led hundreds of slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad.
B. There should be a national holiday to celebrate Harriet's achievements.
C. As a small child, she was a slave and frequently subjected to severe whippings.
A) Over the course of 10 years, and at great personal risk, she led hundreds of slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad.
A monkey put his hand into the jar of cookies. He grasped as many as he could possibly hold, but when he tried to pull his hand, he was prevented from doing so by the neck of the cookie jar. Unwilling to lose the cookies, and yet unable to withdraw his hand, he burst into tears and cried bitterly.
What is the theme?
A Eating cookies can be dangerous.
B If you are greedy, you might get nothing.
C Don't put your hand in a jar.
B.) If you are greedy, you might get nothing.
Growing up, Sally was always in the shadow of her older sister Mary. Mary always got better grades, was better at sports, and seemed to even be prettier. Sally spent a lot of time in the family's garden feeling sorry for herself. Then one day Mary needed help on a science project about plants. Due to all of her time in the garden, Sally knew a lot about plants and was able help Mary with the project. Sally was shocked that she was better at something than her sister.
What is the theme?
Accept yourself for who you are.
Babies use both hands. But babies use one hand more than the other. This hand may become the preferred one. How can you tell? Lay a baby on its back. Notice which side the baby faces. If the baby looks to the right most of the time, it will probably be right-handed. What does it mean if the baby faces left more often? The baby will most likely be left-handed.
What is the main idea?
a. there are more left-handed babies
b. babies are so cute and lovable to everyone
c. babies use their hands for many things
d. the ways to tell right-handed babies from left-handed babies
d. the ways to tell right-handed babies from left-handed babies
Born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey to a slave mother and a white father he never knew, Frederick Douglass grew up to become a leader in the abolitionist movement and the first black citizen to hold high rank (as U.S. minister and consul general to Haiti) in the U.S. government. _______________________________ _______________________________________________ Frederick Douglass once told a group of African American students from a school in Talbot County, Maryland, "What was possible for me is possible for you. Do not think because you are colored you cannot accomplish anything. Strive earnestly to add to your knowledge. So long as you remain in ignorance, so long will you fail to command the respect of your fellow men." He won world fame when his autobiography was publicized in 1845. Two years later he began publishing an antislavery paper called the North Star.
Which of the following details support the main idea?
A. Frederick's mother, Harriet Bailey, worked the cornfields surrounding Holmes Hill.
B. A brilliant speaker, Douglass was asked by the American Anti-Slavery Society to engage in a tour of lectures, and so became recognized as one of America's first great black speakers.
C. Frederick was born a slave in February 1818 on Holmes Hill Farm, near the town of Easton on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
B) A brilliant speaker, Douglass was asked by the American Anti-Slavery Society to engage in a tour of lectures, and so became recognized as one of America's first great black speakers.
One winter, a monkey found a snake stiff and frozen. The monkey felt sorry for the snake and so he picked the snake up and held it to his chest to try to warm it. The snake was quickly revived by the warmth, and because of its instincts, bit the monkey with all its might.
What is the theme?
A Even though you have good intentions, others may not
B Actions have consequences.
C Snakes are dangerous.
A.) Even though you have good intentions, others may not
There once was a clever fox who loved playing tricks. He invited his friend the stork over for dinner one day. When dinner was served, the poor bird saw that the meal was soup served in a flat dish. Trying with all her might, the stork could not drink the soup with her long, thin beak.
"I'm sorry you aren't enjoying the dinner," the fox said, laughing to himself over his trick.
"Oh, it's no problem at all," the stork said, acting very polite. "You must join me for dinner next time."
Soon the stork invited the fox to her house for dinner. The fox had worked hard all day and was very hungry. But when the stork brought out the food, the fox got a surprise. The dinner was served in tall, narrow jars. With the stork's long beak, the stork had no trouble gobbling up the tasty food. The fox's mouth did not fit in the jar, so he went home hungry.
Expect others to treat you the way you treat them.
Were you born after 1985? If so, how long do you expect to live? Most people born after 1985 can expect to live more than 70 years. Of course, this is just a guess based on past records. By the way, females can expect to live about six years longer than males. That’s taken from past records too!
What is the main idea?
a. why people live to be 70
b. females can expect to live about 6 years longer
c. how long people might expect to live
d. about the health of females
c. how long people might expect to live.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a strong leader. He was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to college to become a minister, like his father was. Dr. King became a leader and civil rights advocate. __________ _______________________________________ On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed. Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by celebrating his birthday as a national holiday.
Which of the following details would best support the main idea?
A. Martin had a white childhood friend who was not allowed to play with him after they started attending different schools.
B. His nonviolent leadership and powerful speeches gained him respect from the American people.
C. We should all honor and respect Martin Luther King Jr. for the work he has done.
B. His nonviolent leadership and powerful speeches gained him respect from the American people.
Mia loved painting more than anything else. Every day after school, she would sit in her tiny backyard, mixing colors and creating vibrant images of forests, oceans, and mountains. But one day, her friend Sarah said, "Mia, why do you spend so much time painting? It's not like anyone's going to see your work."
Mia's smile faltered for a moment, but she replied, "I paint because it makes me happy, not because someone has to see it."
That evening, her mom found Mia painting a sunset. "You know," her mom said, "when you do what you love, it shows in everything you do. Keep painting, Mia."
What is the best theme?
A. True friends always support your hobbies.
B. It's important to do what makes you happy.
C Success is only valuable when others recognize it.
B. It's important to do what makes you happy.
DAILY DOUBLE Once upon a time, there was a war between the animals of the air and the animals of the land. The eagle would hunt and eat the rabbit. The owl was never safe from the fox. The bat had wings like the flying animals, but it had teeth like the land animals. Unsure which side to join, the bat joined whichever side was winning. When the air animals were ahead, the bat fought along with the air animals. When the land animals won a battle, the bat joined them. After many years, both sides decided to end the war. There was peace across the earth. But the animals could not forget what the bat had done. Both the air animals and the land animals felt tricked by the bat. They decided to drive the bat away. And that is why the bat hides away during the day and goes out only at night.
People who aren't true to their friends will end up with no one.